Broncos star linebacker D.J. Williams has been stripped of his team captaincy, fined nearly $15,000 by the team and told he will not start Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs as punishment for his arrest on early Friday morning on suspicion of drunk driving.

Benching Williams for the first quarter would follow the precedent set earlier this season by the New York Jets, who briefly benched receiver Braylon Edwards after a DUI, and the Titans, who did not allow receiver Kenny Britt to start after he was involved in a bar fight.

The team said in a statement released Saturday morning that it will leave all further discipline to the NFL.

Williams also faces a multi-game suspension from the league as a two-time offender of the substance-abuse policy. Friday’s arrest was his second for DUI. The first was during the 2005 season.

If convicted on the latest charges, Williams also faces a mandatory 10-day jail sentence (though at a judge’s discretion it could be served in-home) and a minimum of two years probation. His first court date is schedule for Dec. 13.

“The Denver Broncos are extremely disappointed in D.J. Williams’ careless and irresponsible actions on Friday morning. This type of behavior is taken very seriously by the organization,” the team said in a statement Saturday morning.

Williams was arrested just before 3 a.m. Friday, a little over two days before a must-win game against the division-leading Chiefs. He was pulled over in the 900 block of South Broadway when officers saw him driving his Hummer without headlights. Williams refused a breathalyzer test at the scene and was taken to a detox facility, where he stayed overnight.

Williams missed Friday’s practice — he arrived at Dove Valley shortly after his teammates started practice, still wearing the same clothes from the night before — and spent about 15 minutes at the facility later.

Williams, the second-longest tenured Bronco, leads the team in both tackles and sacks. With Williams on the bench, either Wesley Woodyard or Joe Mays is expected to start at inside linebacker. Mario Haggan, who has played both inside and outside this season, could move back inside as well.